Lawyer; Democrat; First Probate Judge; Justice of the Peace; City Attorney; State Assemblyman; and the 7th Mayor of Milwaukee. He was the first three-term mayor from 1855, 56 and 57. He was born in Phelps, Ontario, NY, where he worked on the farm until he was 16. He then read law with Sherwood & Smith at Lyons, NY. He came to Milwaukee in 1841, and joined the firm of Horatio Wells & Asahel Finch. He was noted for his handsome appearance, and being a person of more than ordinary capacity, both physically and mentally he rose to distinction. In 1856, he married Catherine L. Fuller. she dying within the year. He ran for governor in 1857 and lost the election by 454 votes, a disappointment, which led to a steady decline in his career. After leaving office in 1857, he was president of the Juneau Bank until 1861. In 1859, he married Eunice G. Osborn (b. 1838) of Edgartown, MA and they had two children. In 1860 his large city block burned down - a severe blow to his personal finances. In 1871 he lost his 8 year old son, James B. Jr., in a drowning accident. He sold real estate for a year or two, and in 1867 he was vice-president of the Milwaukee and Port Washington Railroad. He was a probate clerk in 1873-74 until he suffered a stroke. He was head clerk at the post office until his death from a second stroke at the age of 58.
Lawyer; Democrat; First Probate Judge; Justice of the Peace; City Attorney; State Assemblyman; and the 7th Mayor of Milwaukee. He was the first three-term mayor from 1855, 56 and 57. He was born in Phelps, Ontario, NY, where he worked on the farm until he was 16. He then read law with Sherwood & Smith at Lyons, NY. He came to Milwaukee in 1841, and joined the firm of Horatio Wells & Asahel Finch. He was noted for his handsome appearance, and being a person of more than ordinary capacity, both physically and mentally he rose to distinction. In 1856, he married Catherine L. Fuller. she dying within the year. He ran for governor in 1857 and lost the election by 454 votes, a disappointment, which led to a steady decline in his career. After leaving office in 1857, he was president of the Juneau Bank until 1861. In 1859, he married Eunice G. Osborn (b. 1838) of Edgartown, MA and they had two children. In 1860 his large city block burned down - a severe blow to his personal finances. In 1871 he lost his 8 year old son, James B. Jr., in a drowning accident. He sold real estate for a year or two, and in 1867 he was vice-president of the Milwaukee and Port Washington Railroad. He was a probate clerk in 1873-74 until he suffered a stroke. He was head clerk at the post office until his death from a second stroke at the age of 58.
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